Clothes-line prop.



J. C. STILLMAN.

CLOTHES LINE PROP.

APPLICATION men um. 12, I917.

1,246,676 Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

gggg h To all avhom it'may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C.

STILLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Appleton, in thecounty of Outagamie and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Clothes-Line Props, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in clothes line props and hasparticular application to an extensible prop.

The object of this invention resides in the provision of a device ofthis character which is simple, durable, and efficient in itsconstruction and which is provided with a simple locking means forlocking the sections of the prop in adjusted positions so as to preventrelative movement of the sections when the prop is supporting a line.

The invention further consists in the novel features of construction andarrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described, and in which 2-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a transverse section taken on the line H of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my invention comprises two poles orsections 1 and 2 respectively, which are formed of any suitable materialsuch as wood or the like, and which are preferably of rectangularformation in cross section. The sections 1 and 2 are adapted to bearranged in contiguous and overlapped relation, the section 2 beingformed with a guide bracket 3, the latter being formed of a sin le stripof metal which is bent in the form 0 a rectangle and is secured to thesection 2 by means of a transversely extending bolt a. The bracket 3 isso arranged upon the section 2 as to have the opposite ends thereofprojecting beyond the opposite sides of the section to provide arectangular opening through which the section 1 is adapted to extend.The bracket 3 is preferably arranged adjacent the lower end of thesection 2 and is of such a size as to loosely receive the section 1 topermit the sliding movement of the sections in relation to each other.

The section 1 is provided adjacent its upper end with a pair of strips 5which are secured to the opposite side faces of the sec- "ourrnn s'rarns'rarnnr "1 JOHN G. STILLMAN, or nrrtnromwrsoonsm.

CLOTHES-LINE rnor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

Application filed January 12, 1 917. Serial No. 142,055

tions at the ends by-mean's of the bolts 6, the strips extendinglaterally of the section and having their free ends connected by meansofa bolt 7. The section;2 is adapted to extend between the strips 5while, con,- necting the strips upon the outer side of the section "2,is a transversely extending bolt 8 which is threaded throughout itsentire length. This bolt has slightmov'ement'with relation to the strips5. Mounted upon the bolt 7 and disposed between the strips 5 is aneccentric roller 9, the latter being formed of any suitable materialsuch as wood or the like, and being of such a diameter as to cause thecam surface thereof to engage the bolt 8 when in active position. Itwill be seen from the foregoing that after the roller 9 is forced intoengagement with the bolt 8 the said parts are held against relativemovement by tightening the nut on the bolt 7, whereby the roller 9 isclamped between the strips 5. Thus a lock is provided for holding thesections 1 and 2 at adjusted positions with relation to each other. Inapplying the strips to section 1 by bolt 6 there must be space enoughleft between section 2 and threaded bolt 8 to let section 2 loosely playwhen strips 5 are swung at right angles to sections 1 and 2. To lockpress down on free end of strips 5, thereby pressing bolt 8 firmlyagainst section 2, thereby securely locking the parts. It is obviousthat by swinging strips 5 to right angles again it will disengage thebolt 8, thereby permitting section 2 to return to its normal ordisengaged position, whereby the sections may be free to move.

To retain the prop in active position upon a clothes line, I provide theupper end 0 the sections 2 with a clip 10, which is formed of a singlelength of resilient wire. The clip 10 is bent between its ends toprovide the spaced fingers 11 and 12, the finger 12 being relativelylonger than the finger 11 is clearly illustrated in the drawings. Theconfronting strands of the finger are bent to provide the restrictedentrance passage 13, the lower end of the space between the fingersbeing relatively wider as shown. It will be evident from the foregoingconstruction that when the prop is applied to a clothes line, the linewill be passed between the fingers 11 and 12, the inherent resiliency ofthe fingers permitting the fingers to expand to allow the insertion ofthe line as will be understood. The line having been inserted Within thelower portion of the space between the fingers, the prop may be free tomove upon the line as will be understood. The opposite ends of the clipare secured to the sections by means of the plate 14, the plate beingsecured to the section by means of the bolt 15, while the ends of theclip are interposed between the clipand the adjacent faces of thesections.

To prevent the excessive wearing of the section 1 when in supportedposition, I form its lower end with a reduced annular portion 16 uponwhich is mounted a ferrule 17, the latter being preferably formed ofmetal.

It is thought from the foregoing that the construction and operation ofthis device Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,by Washington, D. 0.

Having described my invention What is u claimed isz- A clothes line propcomprising two sections, guide brackets formed on the sections andslidably receiving the sections, a bolt carried by one of the bracketsand an eccentrically mounted wheel engageable with the bolt to force thesame into engagement with one of the sections to lock the sectionsagainst movement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN C. STILLMAN.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

